Best movies like Socrates
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
After Athens falls under the government of the Thirty Tyrants, the lives of citizens are no longer safe. The philosopher Socrates, meanwhile, continues his so-called philosophical "preaching", gathering more and more young disciples. The youth of Athens like Socrates, although the conservatives, such as the comedian Aristophanes, ridicule him, believing him to be one of the sophists.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 941
Genere: Biography, History
Country: Italy, Spain, France
Duration: 120 min
Plot tags: philosophical, artsy
Best tv shows and movies like Socrates (1970):
Similar in 90%
The Death of Socrates (2010)
Plot Summary:
This is the story of the first martyr of free speech. Socrates is on trial for his life. He will be put to death and he knows it. 2500 years later we remember his words. The Death of Socrates was filmed in 10 countries by 23 filmmakers in 7 languages. One character - Socrates, changes from one scene to another from man to woman, young to old, human to animal, but delivering a monologue, broken into 23 chapters. Truth is not found in one person, in one place.
IMDB Rating: 4.6
IMDB Votes: 30
Genere: Biography, Drama, History
Country: USA
Duration: 84 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 85%
Slave Queen of Babylon (1963)
Plot Summary:
General Onnos returns from a successful military campaign to the Assyrian capital of Nineveh. He presents King Minurte with a number of newly-captured slaves including Kir, defeated king of the Dardanians. Kir attracts the attention of Semiramis, a beautiful young woman who's a member of Minurte's court and who has imperial ambitions. She persuades Minurte to give her a province and then uses slave labor, including Kir, to build herself a city which becomes Babylon. All this time she schemes to overthrow Minurte using shifting alliances with both Kir and General Onnos.
IMDB Rating: 5.4
IMDB Votes: 158
Genere: Drama, History
Country: Italy
Duration: 101 min
Plot tags: campy
Similar in 82%
Pharaoh (1966)
Plot Summary:
Young Pharaoh Ramses XIII clashes with Egypt's clergy over influence on the affairs of the state and its coffers.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Adventure, Drama, History
Country: Poland
Duration: 180 min
Plot tags: epic
Similar in 86%
The Rise of Louis XIV (1966)
Plot Summary:
Cardinal Mazarin dies, leaving a power vacuum in which the young Louis asserts his intention to govern as well as rule. Mazarin's fiscal advisor, Colbert, warns against Fouquet, the Superintendant who has been systematically looting the treasury and wants to be prime minister. Fouquet believes Louis will soon tire of exercizing power and overplays his hand by offering a bribe to Louis' mistress to be his ally. She reports this to the king who arrests Fouquet. Louis and Colbert design a brilliant strategy to keep merchants making money, nobles in debt, the urban poor working and fed, and peasants untaxed. Years later, in a coda, we see Louis exercizing the power of the sun.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Biography, History
Country: France
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: epic, political, historical drama, historically accurate, baroque, weird, period drama
Similar in 82%
Esther (1999)
Plot Summary:
Ahasuerus (Xerxes I), King of the Persians, whose empire now extends from India to Egypt after the defeat of the Babylonians, is holding a celebratory banquet for his people in the citadel of Susa to display his wealth and splendor. When he summons his attractive wife Vashti, to show off her beauty to the guests, the proud queen refuses to come. The king promptly bans her from ever entering his presence again, and gives orders for the most beautiful young virgins in the land to be brought to him. The young Jewess Esther, adopted daughter of her uncle Mordecai, is among the girls selected; they are told to beautify themselves in the royal harem and prepare to spend the night with the king. Esther succeeds in enchanting the king with her extraordinary beauty and charm, and he makes her his queen. The king promotes his loyal subject Haman - whose family is notably anti-Jewish - to the post of first minister of the kingdom. When the Jew Mordecai fails to kneel down before Haman like all.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Biography, Drama, History, Romance
Country: Italy, Germany, France, Spain, USA, Czech Republic, Netherlands, UK
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: biblical, christian film
Similar in 79%
Fury of Achilles (1962)
Plot Summary:
In the tenth year of the Trojan War, tensions between Achilles and Agamemnon divide the Greek camp while giving hope to the Trojans.
IMDB Rating: 5.7
IMDB Votes: 333
Genere: Adventure, Drama, History, Romance, War
Country: Italy
Duration: 118 min
Plot tags: homoerotic
Similar in 78%
The Trojan Horse (1961)
Plot Summary:
Guerra di Troia (AKA: Trojan Horse) is a 1961 historical drama film set in the tenth and final year of the Trojan War. The film focuses primarily on the exploits of the Trojan hero Aeneas during this time. The film was directed by Giorgio Ferroni and starred Steve Reeves as Aeneas and John Drew Barrymore as Odysseus. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 622
Genere: Adventure, Drama, History, War
Country: Italy, France, Yugoslavia
Duration: 105 min
Plot tags: psychotronic, campy
Similar in 78%
The Colossus of Rhodes (1961)
Plot Summary:
While on holiday in Rhodes, Athenian war hero Darios becomes involved in two different plots to overthrow the tyrannical king, one from Rhodian patriots and the other from sinister Phoenician agents.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Adventure, Drama, History, War
Country: Italy, France, Spain
Duration: 127 min
Plot tags: technicolor, epic, exciting, serious, captivating, stylized, homoerotic, weird, disaster movie
Similar in 79%
Jacob (1994)
Plot Summary:
In this inspiring tale from the book of Genesis, young shepherd Jacob (Matthew Modine) falls in love with and wants to marry Rachel (Lara Flynn Boyle), the daughter of his Uncle Laban (Giancarlo Giannini). Lacking a dowry, Jacob toils seven years as his uncle's indentured servant to win Rachel's hand. But calculating Laban dupes him into another seven years of labor. Irene Papas portrays Jacob's iron-willed mother.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Biography, Crime, Drama, History
Country: Italy, Germany, USA, France, Czech Republic, Netherlands, Austria, UK, Morocco
Duration: 91 min
Plot tags: biblical, christian film, epic, serious, realistic
Similar in 88%
Brennus, Enemy of Rome (1963)
Plot Summary:
AKA: Brennus, Enemy of Rome, AKA: Battle of the Valiant A 1963 film about the sack of Rome in 387 BC.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 101
Genere: Adventure, Drama, History, War
Country: Italy
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 75%
Augustine: The Decline of the Roman Empire (2010)
Plot Summary:
Augustine is a two-part, Italian-made mini-series about the influential theologian and church father Augustine of Hippo. The piece tells the story of his life from a teenager to his death at the age of 69.Much of the content for the scenes of him as a young and middle-aged man come from his Confessions, which is probably the earliest extant autobiography.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 422
Genere: Biography, Drama, History
Country: Italy, Germany, Poland
Duration: 200 min
Plot tags: psychological, sincere, captivating, biblical, christian film
Similar in 81%
The Column (1968)
Plot Summary:
The Roman Emperor Trajan has just murdered all the local men of Dacia and holds a military stronghold in what will later become Rumania. He places a Roman centurion in his place to occupy his latest conquest. After lopping off the head of the Dacian warlord, the soldier uses his blood-stained hands to dine on cheese and bread, unable to suppress his laughter. The centurion has a change of heart when he is put in charge of the region, freely dispensing justice and forgiveness to the conquered inhabitants. When the peace is threatened by marauding barbarians in masks of fur, the locals help the Romans fend off the invasion.
IMDB Rating: 7.7
IMDB Votes: 748
Genere: Drama, History
Country: Romania, West Germany
Duration: 133 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 77%
Decline of an Empire (2014)
Plot Summary:
The life of Katherine of Alexandria. Constantine joins the Roman army to find his missing childhood friend. Once alerted to his friend's whereabouts, he prepares for an all out war between the East and the West. Contains the last film role of Peter O'Toole, who died before the film was released.
IMDB Rating: 3.3
IMDB Votes: 484
Genere: Biography, Drama, History, War
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 110 min
Plot tags: serious, realistic, disturbing, suspenseful, weird
Similar in 88%
Jeremiah (1998)
Plot Summary:
The young Jeremiah grows up in a priest's family in the village of Anathoth, near Jerusalem. God appears to Jeremiah in different human guises on several occasions, and makes it clear to him that he has been selected to announce God's message to the people of Jerusalem.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Biography, Drama, History
Country: Italy, Germany, USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: biblical, christian film, sincere, epic, serious, captivating, realistic
Similar in 78%
Peter and Paul (1981)
Plot Summary:
Peter and Paul assume leadership of the Church as they struggle against violent opposition to the teachings of Christ and their own personal conflicts.
IMDB Rating: 7.6
IMDB Votes: 654
Genere: Biography, Drama, History
Country: USA
Duration: 198 min
Plot tags: biblical, christian film, atmospheric, epic, serious, captivating, realistic, contemplative, spiritual, sexy
Similar in 80%
Barabbas (1961)
Plot Summary:
Epic account of the thief Barabbas, who was spared crucifixion when Pilate manipulated the crowd into pardoning him, rather than Jesus. Struggling with his spirituality, Barabbas goes through many ordeals leading him to the gladiatorial arena, where he tries to win his freedom and confront his inner demons, ultimately becoming a follower of the man who was crucified in his place.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 7000
Genere: Biography, Drama, History
Country: Italy, USA
Duration: 137 min
Plot tags: biblical, epic, intense, exciting, serious, captivating, christian film, retro, technicolor, realistic
Similar in 76%
The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965)
Plot Summary:
All-star epic retelling of Christ's life.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 11000
Genere: Biography, Drama, History
Country: USA
Duration: 260 min
Plot tags: biblical, epic, christian film, atmospheric, serious, captivating, breathtaking, period piece, stylized, fairy tale
Similar in 86%
Giordano Bruno (1973)
Plot Summary:
Flying from his enemies in the Catholic Church, the free thinking philosopher, poet and scientist Giordano Bruno (1548-1600) has found some protection in Venice. But the Roman Inquisition, fearing his influence in Europe, wants to bring him on trial for 'heresy'.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 950
Genere: Biography, Drama, History
Country: Italy, France
Duration: 123 min
Plot tags: spiritual, philosophical, dramatic, esoteric, sincere, serious, captivating, realistic, contemplative
Similar in 83%
The Trial of Joan of Arc (1962)
Plot Summary:
A reconstruction of the trial of Joan of Arc based entirely on the transcripts of the real-life trial, concerning Joan's imprisonment, interrogation and final execution at the hands of the English.
IMDB Rating: 7.4
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Biography, Drama, History
Country: France
Duration: 65 min
Plot tags: contemplative, spiritual, fairy tale, depressing, powerful, bleak, serious, captivating, realistic, stylized
Similar in 78%
The Young Karl Marx (2017)
Plot Summary:
26 year-old Karl Marx embarks with his wife, Jenny, on the road to exile. In 1844 in Paris, he meets Friedrich Engels, an industrialist’s son, who has been investigating the sordid birth of the British working class. Engels, the dandy, provides the last piece of the puzzle to the young Karl Marx’s new vision of the world. Together, between censorship and the police’s repression, riots and political upheavals, they will lead the labor movement during its development into a modern era.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 7000
Genere: Biography, Drama, History
Country: France, Germany, Belgium
Duration: 118 min
Plot tags: political, psychological, thought provoking, captivating, philosophical, social, independent film, historical drama, informative
Similar in 84%
The Dacians (1966)
Plot Summary:
The great King of Dacia, Decebal (Decebalus), is disposed to make the ultimate sacrifice in order to keep the integrity of his people. His own son, Cotyso, is given to the god Zamolxis to the dismay of the King and his daughter Meda. Septimius Severus a young roman devoted to his adopted country, must make the choose between his blood origins and the culture he was raised to.
IMDB Rating: 7.6
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Biography, Drama, History, War
Country: Romania, France
Duration: 110 min
Plot tags:
Similar in 81%
Hannibal: Rome's Worst Nightmare (2006)
Plot Summary:
It is 200 years before the birth of Christ and Rome is the new superpower of the ancient world. She believes she is invincible - but one man is destined to change that. He is a man bound by oath to avenge the wrongs inflicted on his home and, in pursuit of revenge, he will stop at nothing. Hannibal explores the man behind the myth, revealing what drove the 26-year-old to mastermind one of the most audacious military moves in history. With 40,000 soldiers and 37 elephants, he marched 1,500 miles to challenge his enemies on their own soil. It was an act so daring that few people believed it possible.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Action, Biography, Drama, History, War
Country: UK
Duration: 89 min
Plot tags: exciting, serious, captivating, realistic, inspirational, historical drama, epic
Similar in 85%
Cleopatra (1963)
Plot Summary:
Historical epic. The triumphs and tragedy of the Egyptian queen, Cleopatra.The winner of four Oscars, this epic saga of love, greed and betrayal stars Elizabeth Taylor as the passionate and ambitious Egyptian queen who's determined to hold on to the throne and seduces the Roman emperor Julius Caesar (Rex Harrison). When Caesar is murdered, she redirects her attentions to his general, Marc Antony (Richard Burton), who vows to take power -- but Caesar's successor (Roddy McDowall) has other plans.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 37000
Genere: Biography, Drama, History, Romance
Country: USA, Switzerland, UK
Duration: 192 min
Plot tags: epic, period piece, costume drama, breathtaking, visually appealing, visual, stylized, retro, historical drama, fairy tale
Similar in 80%
The Borgia (2006)
Plot Summary:
A portrait of the bloody dynasty that spawned a pope, Alexander VI, as well as the role model for Machiavelli's "The Prince," his son Cesare Borgia, and a legend of femme duplicity, daughter Lucrezia Borgia.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Biography, History
Country: Spain, Italy
Duration: 120 min
Plot tags: captivating, realistic, disturbing, historical drama, costume drama, serious
Similar in 80%
The 300 Spartans (1962)
Plot Summary:
Essentially true story of how Spartan king Leonidas led an extremely small army of Greek Soldiers (300 of his personal body guards from Sparta) to hold off an invading Persian army now thought to have numbered 250,000.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 8000
Genere: Adventure, Drama, History, War
Country: USA
Duration: 114 min
Plot tags: period piece, epic, serious, biblical, fast paced, technicolor, historical drama, exciting, rough, light
Similar in 88%
The Gospel According to St. Matthew (1964)
Plot Summary:
The life of Jesus Christ according to the Gospel of Matthew. Pasolini shows Christ as a marxist avant-la-lettre and therefore uses half of the text of Matthew.
IMDB Rating: 7.6
IMDB Votes: 13000
Genere: Biography, Drama, History
Country: Italy, France
Duration: 137 min
Plot tags: biblical, christian film, spiritual, art house, bleak, stylized, black and white, fairy tale, philosophical, mysterious
Similar in 85%
Agora (2009)
Plot Summary:
A historical drama set in Roman Egypt, concerning philosopher Hypatia of Alexandria and her relationship with her slave Davus, who is torn between his love for her and the possibility of gaining his freedom by joining the rising tide of Christianity.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 72000
Genere: Adventure, Biography, Drama, History, Romance
Country: Spain, Malta, Bulgaria, USA
Duration: 127 min
Plot tags: sincere, philosophical, emotional, intellectual, stylized, epic, political, dramatic, historical drama, touching
Similar in 85%
Danton (1983)
Plot Summary:
Danton and Robespierre were close friends and fought together in the French Revolution, but by 1793 Robespierre was France's ruler, determined to wipe out opposition with a series of mass executions that became known as the Reign of Terror. Danton, well known as a spokesman of the people, had been living in relative solitude in the French countryside, but he returned to Paris to challenge Robespierre's violent rule and call for the people to demand their rights. Robespierre, however, could not accept such a challenge, even from a friend and colleague, and he blocked out a plan for the capture and execution of Danton and his allies.
IMDB Rating: 7.4
IMDB Votes: 8000
Genere: Biography, Drama, History
Country: France, Poland
Duration: 136 min
Plot tags: political, epic, talky, spiritual, anthology, art film, historical drama, historically accurate, serious, captivating
Similar in 82%
Confucius (2010)
Plot Summary:
In 500 B.C., during Chinas famed 'Spring and Autumn Period', Kong Ze (Confucius), a commoner reverred for his outstanding wisdom, is made Minister of Law in the ancient Kingdom of Lu. Under his inspired leadership, Lu ascends to new heights but becomes a target of conquest for the warlike nation of Qi. Threatened with annihilation by their powerful neighbour, a desperate people turn to their greatest teacher to lead their most powerful army. When Confucius delivers a stunning victory against all odds, a jealous aristocracy sets out to destroy him, but they should never under-estimate a remarkable man whose wisdom is more powerful than the sword.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Biography, Drama, History
Country: China
Duration: 125 min
Plot tags: contemplative, atmospheric, epic, serious, captivating, realistic, inspirational, art film
Similar in 84%
Alexander (2004)
Plot Summary:
Alexander, the King of Macedonia, leads his legions against the giant Persian Empire. After defeating the Persians, he leads his army across the then known world, venturing farther than any westerner had ever gone, all the way to India.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 175000
Genere: Action, Biography, Drama, History, War
Country: USA, UK, Germany, Netherlands, France, Italy
Duration: 175 min
Plot tags: epic, breathtaking, period piece, serious, factual, informative, historical drama, suspense, harsh, inspirational